First Grade is SUPER!

The first day of first grade was SUPER!  What a terrific group of enthusiastic learners!  I am so excited to be teaching these 18 amazing children. We were busy, busy, busy this week!  We did several activities to learn each others' names.  One song was called "Hickety Tickety Bumblebee."  Each child introduced themselves using our class' microphone.  Then, the students used the interactive whiteboard to put their names into a beehive.  The children were excited to be using the interactive tools.  We also made a book of the "Hickety Tickety" song.  All the students made a beautiful name page to add to the book.  

We read the book The Little Engine That Could (click on the book's title to see a video version of the book).  We discussed having an "I think I can" attitude in first grade.  See the post below for more details about the "I think I can" lesson.  We made a train art project using shapes.  Since we were talking about shapes, we learned an app called Presto Bingo Shapes.  The students worked really hard on the app and were able to learn some iPad basics. If you are interested in the Presto Bingo app, click here to go to the app store and learn more.  The app costs $1.99.

Between fun activities, reading books, lunch, three recesses, a school tour, organizing supplies, and learning rules and procedures our first day was packed.  We ended the day by solving a riddle.

To get a little help solving the riddle, students had a math code to help.  By solving math problems, the students received letters in the answer.  A superheroes favorite drink.....FRUIT PUNCH!  Ha!  To celebrate our problem solving skills, the children had popcorn and fruit punch.

When we closed our first day, the children shared what they thought the best part of the first grade was.  Below is a slideshow of some of the responses.  Thank you for a great first day of school!

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I Think I Can!

    The first read aloud and first concept explored in first grade is an important one.  On the first day of school, we read the book The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper.  (Click on the story's title to see a video version of the book).  The story is about trying your best and not giving up.  We discussed in length how first grade will have some challenges and how the students will accomplish so much by putting in their best effort and having an "I can" attitude!  
    At school, we are building a large train to hang in the front of the classroom.  On the engine we wrote as a class, "I think I can."  Then, each train car will have one of the children's pictures and his or her writing.  If we ever find something really challenging, we can point up to our class "I can" train and remember this important lesson.  The students also built a train to take home and share the lesson with you!  One fabulous first grader even hung her train on her door to help her remember her "I can" attitude everyday!  I hope you had a chance to talk about this wonderful book.

Complimenting our "I can" attitude, the first graders have really enjoyed singing and watching this video called "Don't Give Up" with Bruno Mars.

Introductions

Hello! Welcome to our classroom blog! I use this blog to give you a view into our classrooms. I try to post weekly with pictures and videos of classroom happenings. I include learning objectives with helpful links for review and extension activities. My goal is to keep us all CONNECTED in the learning!

If you are interested in learning more about me, click on the "Meet the Teacher" tab above.  The link includes information about my family and experience, as well as, links to articles I have written and a short video documentary on my work with educational technology.  Further, I have posted my contact information.  Below is the back to school letter I sent home Wednesday.  I am looking forward to a super year in first grade!

Summer Fun!

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I really enjoyed seeing so many of the children at the Oasis on Friday! So glad you could come out and have some fun. I wish you all a very happy back to school! Please stay in touch!

Back to School Splash

I can't wait for school to start but I love the summer time so...let's have a Back to School Splash! On Friday, August 14th from 4PM-7PM, I would love to get the kids and families together to have some summer time fun at the Oasis. I know they would love to see each other and play!

Of course, this is just an opportunity to get together, I understand completely if you are unable to make it. Adults cost $8 and kids are $6. According to the Oasis website, children under 10 must be with an adult. For safety reasons, I need you to be sure that you are with your soon to be second grader at our Back to School Splash!  I hope to see many of you there! Let's meet behind the slide by the activity pool.